Defendant takes stand in murder trial

FAIRFIELD — Tyler Webster took the stand in his own defense Monday morning inside the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Webster, 33, is accused of murdering Buddy Frisbie on Aug. 25 near Fairfield.

Webster testified to his background in the army and the training in weapons and he received there. He testified to his relationship to Frisbie, with whom he had been close friends since age 14 or 15 when Webster’s mother entered a relationship with Frisbie’s father.

Webster testified to the events leading up to the shooting, which occurred at a trailer at 2469 Marigold Blvd., about three miles south of Fairfield.

On the afternoon of Aug. 25, 2012, Webster was inside a trailer with Frisbie and Frisbie’s girlfriend, Shelby Hall. Webster said he heard Frisbie say something to Hall, and Hall responded by saying, “I don’t want to.”

Webster said Frisbie was talking to Hall as if she were a child. Webster said he learned through the conversation that Hall was refusing to perform oral sex on Frisbie. Webster said Frisbie became even more hostile and forced Hall’s arm up her back. He said Frisbie asked her if that hurt, in a sarcastic tone.

“At that point, she was doubled over,” Webster said. “She said ‘stop’ in an aggressive voice.”

Webster said Frisbie didn’t stop. He asked Hall to kiss him, which she did. He said that’s when he left the trailer.

“I thought she was being raped,” Webster said.

Webster said he walked about 25 feet to his truck parked outside the trailer to retrieve a handgun in the glove box of his pickup truck. When he returned to the trailer, he said he cycled a round in the handgun, “established a clear sight picture,” “made sure he had a clear backdrop” and fired two rounds into Frisbie’s head.

Adams asked Webster how he could have felt that his own life was in danger. Webster had earlier testified to Frisbie’s propensity to start fights. He said he was always careful not to cross Frisbie or be seen by him as an enemy.

“If I crossed the line, I know he would not hesitate to use deadly force against me,” Webster said.

Adams asked Webster why he shot Frisbie in the face as opposed to somewhere else on his body. Webster said Hall was covering Frisbie’s midsection.

Adams asked Webster why he shot Frisbie twice. Webster said he was trained in the Army to shoot dummies twice, and this muscle memory stayed with him and became a reflex.

Adams asked if Webster was trying to kill Frisbie. Webster said he was “trying to eliminate the threat.”

“I didn’t want Buddy to be dead, and I don’t want him to be dead now, but he is,” he said.

Adams asked if Webster hated Frisbie. Webster said he did not hate Frisbie.

Webster had earlier testified about hearing stories from his wife, Ann, and from Frisbie himself about Frisbie raping women and also injuring them in the process. Webster said he had always defended Frisbie because he cared for Frisbie and because he said other people did not understand Frisbie’s past.

Adams asked Webster why he shot Frisbie Aug. 25. Webster said it was harder to justify Frisbie’s actions in his own mind after seeing them with his own eyes as opposed to simply hearing about them.

“When I hadn’t seen it, it was easier to make excuses I could live with,” he said. “I could not live with this.”

Adams asked Webster why he didn’t simply walk away from the trailer.

“I felt that would be morally irresponsible,” he said. “You just don’t do those kinds of things to people. Shelby would have been raped.”

Webster said it would have been another instance where he would have to justify Frisbie’s actions in his own mind.

Adams asked Webster if he regretted shooting Frisbie. Webster said he definitely regretted killing Frisbie. He said the incident has damaged people he loves.